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Law with Criminology - LLB (Hons)

Overview

The Ulster Law School has an excellent reputation for teaching, research, student support, and student development.

Revalidation

The University regularly ‘refreshes’ courses to make sure they are as up-to-date as possible. In addition, it undertakes formal periodic review of courses in a process called 'revalidation’ to ensure that they continue to meet standards and are current and relevant. This course will be revalidated in the near future, and it is possible that there will be some changes to the course as described in this prospectus.

Summary

The School

The School of Law seeks to achieve excellence in teaching, research, and professional development. The School provides a range of LLB courses, all of which are Qualifying Law Degrees (QLDs) for the purposes of the legal professions, as well as a range of postgraduate courses. Students at Ulster have the opportunity to draw upon the expertise of an internationally recognized group of researchers. Law at Ulster was ranked 4th in the 2014 Research Excellence Framework (REF), with 82% of publications ranked as world-leading or internationally excellent. The REF 2014 results also showcase the real-world impact of legal research at Ulster. In the new 'Research Impact' category, 100% of our work was scored as world-leading.

The Campus

Located in the heart of the vibrant Cathedral Quarter, the new campus provides a progressive learning, teaching, and research environment supported by the best innovative technology, allowing us to nurture talent and innovation.

About this course

About

A total of 18 modules are studied over the course of five years. These modules include the core law modules needed for Qualifying Law Degree status.

You will undertake six modules at each level, typically two modules per semester.

Level Four

• Exploring Law: This module introduces you to basic legal principles and concepts and enables you to understand and appreciate the structure and organization of the legal system of the United Kingdom (with particular reference to Northern Ireland). It also enables you to acquire certain skills, such as those of instant recall, analysis, argumentation, and articulation, which will prove useful in your further studies.
• Public Law: A thorough knowledge of the constitutional basis is necessary in order to appreciate the powers and responsibilities of both central and devolved government and the limit to the competences of each tier of government. An understanding of the history and evolution of the constitutional norms that shape UK legal constitutional discourse is necessary to appreciate the role of the legal system in regulating disputes between the various branches of government and between the government and the public. A deeper appreciation of UK constitutionalism can also be gleaned from a comparison with the fundamental elements of other states’ constitutions.
• Introduction to Crime & Deviance: Crime and deviance are rarely out of the news with frequent media warnings, for example of rises in anti-social behaviour’. This module encourages students to look beneath the headlines and examine social constructions of crime. Ideas about crime’ and `deviance’ vary over time and place and the module explores popular discourses on these themes. Methods of measuring crime are critically assessed and the fear of crime is explored. The module introduces students to criminology as a discipline and to key theoretical traditions. Students are supported in developing the critical skills needed to evaluate competing perspectives.
• Criminal Law: The recognition of the importance of the criminal law requires that those who study law have a detailed understanding of its basic principles. This module explores the basic principles underlying criminal law and procedure and the relationship between the role of criminal law and that of civil law. It enables you to extend your understanding of the development of the common law and legislation as sources of law.
• Law of Tort: Modern societies require certain interests to be protected not just by the criminal law but by the civil law, so that persons who are injured or whose property is damaged can claim compensation or some other remedy in the courts. No person who studies our law should be ignorant of the principles which govern this part of the civil law which has been developed around the notion of a tort.
• Crime & Criminal Justice: This module will explore crime and its control through an analysis of specific crime problems and the response of the criminal justice system to these problems, drawing upon an array of national and international research evidence, and current developments. Students will be introduced to major offending patterns in Northern Ireland and the United Kingdom. Consideration will also be given to the agencies, and policy frameworks, around which crime control is organised.

Level Five

• Contract Law: The recognition of the importance of the contractual relationship by the civil law requires that those who study law have a detailed understanding of the basic principles of contract law. This module explores the development of the principles of contract law through parliament, the courts, Europe, the business world, and the professional literature.
• Introduction to Property Law: This module provides students with an introduction to the key concepts of property law in both Northern Ireland and England and Wales. It will prepare students for further detailed study of property law at Level 5 (Land Law – LAW311) and at Level 6 (Equity and Trusts) as well as complementing the study of aspects of Tort, Contract, and Criminal Law. Completion of this module and Land Law (LAW311) will allow students to meet the requirements of the professional bodies in respect of property law in Northern Ireland, England, and Wales.
• Victims of Crime (optional): This module develops analytical skills in criminology and criminal justice. It evaluates, in the national and international context, the experiences, and the actual and potential role of victims of crime within the criminal justice system and explores whether they should be afforded a greater role.
• Young People, Crime & Justice (optional): This module provides an overview of the history and development of the modern youth justice system in GB and NI. It explores sociological and criminological concepts relating to 'childhood', 'adolescence', and 'juvenile delinquency'. The module explores crime committed by young people, its causes, consequences, and treatment, and the victimisation of young people. It critically analyses current debates and issues regarding youth crime and youth justice within a children's rights framework.
• Policing & Society (optional): This module will explain the role of policing in civil society by exploring the relationships between the police and society. Students will gain an insight into the interactive relationship between police and society, in particular how they influence each other as policing adapts to societal change and how society responds to the delivery style of policing.
• Crime & the Media (optional): The overall aim of this diverse module is to introduce and develop students' understanding of the relationship between crime and the media. The module will primarily focus on specific types of media portrayals of crime and criminal behaviour, media effects, theories of media, and the connection between the media, public opinion, and criminal justice policy.

Level Six

• Equity and Trusts: This module will explore the history of equity and its maxims, the development of the trust and its various forms, uses, and practical implications today. It will consider how trusts can be varied and set aside, the powers and duties of trustees, and the remedies for breach of trust. It will also examine equitable doctrines such as conversion and election and survey the law relating to equitable remedies such as injunctions.
• Transitional Justice: This module will provide you with an introduction to contemporary human rights issues as they impact on societies coming out of conflict. The module provides a legal and historical perspective on classic transitional justice dilemmas and looks at theoretical and concrete accommodations between notions of peace and justice in transitional societies. Critically, the module will examine transitional legal issues in a number of jurisdictions and look at the applicability of a number of central themes to the Northern Ireland transition.
• Surveillance and the Law: This module considers the rationale for conducting surveillance by agencies within the criminal justice system and the competing claims of individuals to be free from surveillance by virtue of rights such as privacy. You will explore the manner in which the law reflects the tension between these competing concerns.
• Company Law: Government departments are themselves Bodies Corporate and this fact has for them far-reaching legal implications. Government is also responsible for the substance of company law and its institutions, including the companies registry. This module deals with the main forms of business organisations both in the UK and EU, their management and contracting powers and procedures.

Attendance

Each module of study usually involves a weekly two-hour lecture and one-hour seminar. In addition, students are required to undertake substantial directed independent learning. Generally, one or two modules are studied per semester on the part-time programme.

Start dates

• September 2026

Teaching, Learning and Assessment

Content

The content for each course is summarised on the relevant course page, along with an overview of the modules that make up the course.

Each course is approved by the University and meets the expectations of:

• the relevant generic national Qualification Descriptor (opens in new window)
• the applicable Subject Benchmark Statement (opens in new window)
• the requirements of any professional, regulatory, statutory, and accrediting bodies.

Attendance and Independent Study

As part of your course induction, you will be provided with details of the organisation and management of the course, including attendance and assessment requirements - usually in the form of a timetable. For part-time courses which require attendance on particular days and times, an expectation of the days and periods of attendance will be included in the letter of offer. A course handbook is also made available.

Courses comprise modules for which the notional effort involved is indicated by its credit rating. Each credit point represents 10 hours of student effort. Undergraduate courses typically contain 10- or 20-credit modules (more usually 20).

The normal study load expectation for an undergraduate full-time course of study in the standard academic year is 120 credit points. This amounts to around 36-42 hours of expected teaching and learning per week, inclusive of attendance requirements for lectures, seminars, tutorials, practical work, fieldwork, or other scheduled classes, private study, and assessment. Part-time study load is the same as full-time pro-rata, with each credit point representing 10 hours of student effort.

Assessment

Assessment methods vary and are defined explicitly in each module. Assessment can be a combination of examination and coursework but may also be only one of these methods. Assessment is designed to assess your achievement of the module’s stated learning outcomes. You can expect to receive timely feedback on all coursework assessment. The precise assessment will depend on the module and may be subject to change from year to year for quality or enhancement reasons. You will be consulted about any significant changes.

Coursework can take many forms, for example: essay, report, seminar paper, test, presentation, dissertation, design, artefacts, portfolio, journal, group work. The precise form and combination of assessment will depend on the course you apply for and the module. Details will be made available in advance through induction, the course handbook, the module specification, and the assessment timetable. The details are subject to change from year to year for quality or enhancement reasons. You will be consulted about any significant changes.

Normally, a module will have 4 learning outcomes, and no more than 2 items of assessment. An item of assessment can comprise more than one task. The notional workload and the equivalence across types of assessment is standardised.

Calculation of the Final Award

The class of Honours awarded in Bachelor’s degrees is usually determined by calculation of an aggregate mark based on performance across the modules at Levels 5 and 6, (which correspond to the second and third year of full-time attendance). Level 6 modules contribute 70% of the aggregate mark and Level 5 contributes 30% to the calculation of the class of the award.

Academic profile

The School aims to provide a broadly ‘socio-legal’ education, with specialist teaching from academics in a variety of fields and those from previous professional practice who can provide the invaluable ‘taste’ of law-in-action. The School includes the award-winning Ulster Law Clinic, the Legal Innovation Centre, and the globally recognised Transitional Justice Institute.

The University employs over 1,000 suitably qualified and experienced academic staff - 60% have PhDs in their subject field and many have professional body recognition.

Courses are taught by staff who are Professors (19%), Readers, Senior Lecturers (22%), or Lecturers (57%).

We require most academic staff to be qualified to teach in higher education: 82% hold either Postgraduate Certificates in Higher Education Practice or higher. Most academic and learning support staff (85%) are recognised as fellows of the Higher Education Academy (HEA) by Advance HE - the university sector professional body for teaching and learning. Many academic and technical staff hold other professional body designations related to their subject or scholarly practice.

The profiles of many academic staff can be found on the University’s departmental websites and give a detailed insight into the range of staffing and expertise. The precise staffing for a course will depend on the department(s) involved and the availability and management of staff. This is subject to change annually and is confirmed in the timetable issued at the start of the course.

Occasionally, teaching may be supplemented by suitably qualified part-time staff (usually qualified researchers) and specialist guest lecturers. In these cases, all staff are inducted, mostly through our staff development programme ‘First Steps to Teaching’. In some cases, usually for provision in one of our out-centres, Recognised University Teachers are involved, supported by the University in suitable professional development for teaching.

Careers & opportunities

Career options

Ulster graduates have gone on to study law at postgraduate level both at Ulster University and other institutions (e.g., Masters courses such as the LLM, or doctoral studies); others are now in practice as solicitors or barristers, having completed the Certificate in Professional Legal Studies. Others have pursued careers in related areas such as the business and finance sector, human resources, politics, and the community sector.

Work placement / study abroad

To enhance the student experience, at the end of year two of undergraduate study, many students opt to participate in a number of year-long programmes, including StudyUSA, the Erasmus scheme, and the International Student Exchange Programme. In participating in these schemes, student fees are paid and a small stipend provided to assist with the purchase of books and such like.

The work placement module provides undergraduate students with an opportunity to gain structured and professional work experience, in a work-based learning environment, as part of their planned programme of study. This experience allows students to develop, refine, and reflect on their key personal and professional skills. The placement should significantly support the development of the student’s employability skills, preparation for final year, and enhance their employability journey.

Professional Recognition

Accreditations reflect the excellence of our teaching, research, and knowledge exchange and ensure our programmes realise the highest expectations. By studying at Ulster University you’ll gain insight and be at the forefront of current industry practices, while our many accredited degree programmes open doors to the world’s top professional organisations, making you more attractive to future employers and giving you a competitive edge in the job market.

Bar Standards Board

Accredited by the Bar Standards Board for the purpose of a Qualifying Law Degree.

Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA)

The qualifying law degree is recognised by the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) for the purposes of satisfying the academic stage of training.

Law Society of Northern Ireland (LSNI)

Recognised by the Law Society of Northern Ireland (LSNI) for the purpose of a Qualifying Law Degree.

Fees and funding

2026/27 Fees

Undergraduate fees are subject to annual review, 2026/27 fees will be announced in due course.

See our tuition fees page for the current fees for 2025/26 entry.

Scholarships, awards, and prizes

Prizes are sponsored by some of the foremost law firms in Northern Ireland, leading NGOs, and legal publishing houses. The School believes that hard work and talent should be rewarded and, as such, the range of prizes on offer within the Law School provide an excellent means of facilitating student engagement with the legal professions and with community-based organisations more broadly.

Standard entry conditions

We recognise a range of qualifications for admission to our courses. In addition to the specific entry conditions for this course, you must also meet the University’s General Entrance Requirements.

A level

Applicants should satisfy the University General Requirements e.g.

1. Provide evidence of competence in written and spoken English (GCSE English Language grades A-C/ 4-9 or equivalent); and
2. Provide evidence of passes in five subjects, two of which must be at A level (grades A-E) and three at GCSE level* (grades A-C/4-9); or
3. Provide evidence of passes in four subjects, three of which must be at A level (grades A-E) and one at GCSE level* (grades A- C/4-9); or
4. Provide evidence of an approved qualification at an equivalent level such as a BTEC Level 3 Extended Diploma or Access to Higher Education qualification or equivalent; or
5. Provide evidence, for a process of formal accreditation by the University, of learning you have gained through work or other experience.

• GCSE English Language (grades A-C/4-9) may be used as part of the GCSE requirement.

GCSE

You must satisfy the General Entrance Requirements for admission to a first degree course and hold a GCSE pass in English Language at grade C or above (or equivalent).

English Language Requirements

English language requirements for international applicants
The minimum requirement for this course is Academic IELTS 6.0 with no band score less than 5.5. Trinity ISE: Pass at level III also meets this requirement for Tier 4 visa purposes.

Ulster recognises a number of other English language tests and comparable IELTS equivalent scores.

• English language requirements
• Your country

Exemptions and transferability

The professional bodies that accredit LLB degrees place restrictions on the extent to which credit can be given for study undertaken on other courses and/or at other institutions. Provided that a candidate has met the standard entrance requirements for the course, consideration will be given (subject to these restrictions) to an application to transfer or for exemption from specific modules. No transfer or exemption is possible at level 6.